Vote clean drinking water!

Right now, we have the opportunity to make a difference to the quality of water in Canterbury. That's because from 9 September to 11 October we’ll have the chance to vote for the candidates standing to represent us on our local councils.

It is no secret that water in Canterbury is in a dire state. Two thirds of rivers and lakes are too polluted to swim in, while many Cantabrians can’t drink the water coming out their tap because it is contaminated with nitrate. 

The Government is actively undermining the rules that protect lakes, rivers and drinking water - especially with Chris Bishop’s latest reforms opening the pollution floodgates - but we can fight back! 

When our Government won’t ensure the safety of drinking water for New Zealanders, local and regional councils have to step up. That's because they have a responsibility to protect source water in their regions. Right now, many councils are failing - including Environment Canterbury, who are responsible for ensuring that communities in Canterbury have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Local body elections are important because they provide New Zealanders with an opportunity to hold decision makers to account. The 14 candidates who are elected across the 7 Canterbury constituencies are the people who will have the power to make decisions about water protection.

You have the opportunity to elect candidates who will protect rivers, lakes and drinking water in Canterbury.  That's why we need everyone on board to vote for clean drinking water in these upcoming elections - and to spread the word so that your friends and whānau join in too!

We must work together to make clean drinking water a priority election issue and ensure that the councillors who are elected will take a strong stand for freshwater in Canterbury. And we need your help to make clean drinking water a priority.

Our local elections generally have lower visibility and low voting rates. Our democratic processes are important yet are at risk of being eroded. This is important in particular for younger people, who are statistically less likely to vote as they are more mobile and may not see the relevance to their own lives.

But they're important! The candidates elected to the regional councils will be the people making the decisions for the environment in our regions. Councils must put the health of water and communities first, above all other uses of water.  

The more people who vote the better, because we have a higher chance of councillors around the table who will prioritise the health of fresh water, and the health of our communities. That's why we're looking for as many volunteers as possible to help get the word out and join us in taking action.

This election we are calling on Environment Canterbury candidates to pledge to: 

1. Stop dairy expansion in Canterbury - because more cows means more pollution.
2. Implement a sinking cap on the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser - because overuse of fertiliser is one of the major causes of drinking water pollution in Aotearoa.